On this, its longest route, United has a fully loaded Business First section, with trademark flat beds, plus-size video screens with 150 hours of on-demand programming, power ports, and USB chargers. The carrier is also preparing to roll out overwater wifi connectivity for its transpacific services.

Courtesy United Airlines

Qantas Flight 7/8

Sydney-Dallas

Flying time: 16 hours

Distance: 8,575 miles

Aircraft type: B747-400

Cathay Pacific Flight 830/831, 840/841, 845/846 (JFK); 890/899 (EWR)

New York/Newark-Hong Kong

Flying time: 16 hours, 5 minutes

Distance: 8,078 miles

Aircraft type: B777-300ER

South African Airways Flight 203/204

Johannesburg-New York

Flying time: 16 hours, 15 minutes

Distance: 7,954 miles

Aircraft type: A340-600

SAA flies this super-long route with a hardy four-engine Airbus A340-600, equipped with 45 business flat beds and 275 economy seats. In coach, a 2-4-2 layout lessens claustrophobia by reducing the number of middle seats.

Courtesy South African Airlines

Qatar Airways Flight 77/78

Doha-Houston

Flying time: 16 hours, 20 minutes

Distance: 8,016 miles

Aircraft type: 777-200LR

Qatar shuttles between the two energy capitals with a 259-seat 777 with just two classes—meaning that those who nab one of the 42 flat seats in business get a generous seat pitch of up to 78 inches, in a 2–2–2 seat layout. Coach class has 217 seats, also with above-average pitch of 34 inches in a 3-3-3 configuration, and all fliers get amenities kits with eyeshades, socks, and other "essentials" for the long haul.

Courtesy Qatar Airways

Emirates Flight 211/212

Dubai to Houston

Flying time: 16 hours, 20 minutes

Distance: 8,168 miles

Aircraft type: 777-200LR

To Houston, Emirates flies the long range, 266-seat 777, which features 8 in first class and 42 in business. Oil tycoons will appreciate the “do not disturb” signs, personal mini-bars, and on-demand dining in first class; business class fliers get privacy screens and classy leather seat-beds with built-in massage. All classes feature “ice”, Emirates’ onboard entertainment system offering up to 1,500 channels of content.

Courtesy Emirates

Etihad Flight 170/171

Los Angeles – Abu Dhabi

Flying time: 16 hours, 30 minutes

Distance: 8,390 miles

Aircraft type: B777-200LR

With this new route connecting the desert boom town of Abu Dhabi with L.A., Etihad is offering generous legroom in all classes: 8 First Class suites, 40 Business Class flatbed seats, and 189 Economy Class seats. For families, there’s a unique “Flying Nanny” program to care for the littlest passengers so parents can get some respite from endless pleas of “are we there yet?”

Courtesy Etihad

Emirates Flight 215/216

Dubai to Los Angeles

Flying time: 16 hours, 35 minutes

Distance: 8,339 miles

Aircraft type: A380

The airline recently upgraded the equipment to a double-decker A380, with 14 first class suites, 76 flat beds in business class, and 399 seats in coach. There’s also an upstairs cocktail lounge for premium fliers. Passengers in all classes get a generous baggage allowance and inflight Wi-Fi and mobile phone connectivity.

Across France, the opening date for ski slopes is set for December 20, but Tignes in Savoie (at 1550 metres) has had pistes open since October 4 and will open the Killy area on November 26.

Of course, a sudden warm snap could change the game, but for the moment the resort says it will definitely be able to stay open at least until the end of November and an obliging weather forecast will keep the slopes open all winter.

Various other ski stations are opening for the weekend of December 6-7 and a good dump of the right kind of snow could see a flurry of additional openings.

But for now, this is what is on the cards when it comes to resorts opening before December 20:

The French Alps

- In Isère, Autrans (1050m) says it will open all pistes from 1st December for the whole season and Villard de Lans/Corrençon (1050m) will open on 6th December.- In Savoie, Les Menuires (1850m) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a whole host of special events and pistes open on December 6.- Flumet-St Nicolas La Chapelle (1000m) is also planning to open from December 6.- Valloire (1430m) will be open on December 13- and St-Martin de Belleville (1450m) will also be partially open from December 13, with access from Les Menuires.

- In Haute Savoie, La Clusaz in Haute Savoie at 1100 metres will be open from November 29.- Les Contamines Montjoie (1164m) will be open at the weekends from December 3,- Le Grand Bornand (1000m) will also be partially open from December 3.- Megève (1113m) hopes to open for the season on December 6, snow willing.- Châtel (1200m) will be opening some pistes from December 3 and then others will follow on 13.- Combloux (1100m) will be open for the weekend of December 13-14.

- In the Haute Alpes, Serre-Chevalier (1200m) predicts that it will be open by November 29 and remain so at least until December 7 but if there is enough snow, it will stay open all season.- Puy Saint-Vincent (1400m) hopes to open for the weekend of December 6-7.

- Val d'Allos-La Foux (at 1800 metres) and Val d'Allos-Le Seignus (at 1500 metres) in the Alpes de Haute Provence will also be open the weekend of December 6-7.- Isola 2000 in the Alpes Maritimes (at 1800 metres) is also opening on December 6.

The Pyrenees

- In Ariège, Ax les Thermes in Ariège (1400m) will open on November 29.- In Haute Pyrénées, the Domaine du Grand Tourmalet (1400m) will open on November 24 and St-Lary Soulan (1700m) will be open on December 6.- In Pyrénées Orientales, Les Angles (1600m) will be open from November 22 and Font Romeu (1712m) will open on November 30.

The Massif Central

- In Puy de Dôme, both Besse Super Besse (1350m) and Le Mont-Dore (1200m) will open on November 29.

Jura

- In Doubs, Métabief (1000m) will open on December 6.

Vosges

- In Vosges, Gérardmer (750m) will open on December 5,- Ventron (870m) opens on 14,- and Saint-Maurice sur Moselle (1100m) opens on December 15.- In Haut Rhin, Le Lac Blanc (900m) opens on November 29.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Don't let fear of cold weather cloud your vision of the perfect winter vacation. Low-season trips to spots where winter weather reigns are where it's at, for many reasons. An off-peak destination affords budget travelers the rare chance to splurge: Luxury accommodations and flight upgrades become within reach during winter at popular destinations around the world. Plus, crowds are sparse and deals are plentiful. Here are five awesome and affordable spots to consider visiting this winter.

Blue Lagoon (Photo: Icelandair)

Iceland

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it may seem counterintuitive to head north for the winter. However, Iceland offers thermal refuge during the coldest months of the year thanks to its many geothermally heated springs and pools. A hike through the Icelandic countryside often yields the chance to submerge in steamy hot springs. And the celebrated bath-like Blue Lagoon is, arguably, best visited on a brisk winter day, when the toasty mineral waters and blood-warming cocktails offer a welcome thaw.

Airfares to Iceland during winter are notably lower than those in summer. Icelandair, which flies from eight U.S. cities to the Nordic country and beyond, is a great choice for low-priced winter airfare. We spotted flights from New York to Reykjavik for as low as $622 round-trip in early February, via a Hacker Fare on Kayak (combining flights on Icelandair and Norwegian Air). The lowest fares we found for June and July travel started at $837 round-trip.

Iceland is also the perfect place for a winter stopover if you're heading to Europe. Check out Icelandair's free stopover package and take advantage of those affordable low-season airfares.

Hotel Monaco, Philadelphia (Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is an ideal winter destination because so many of its top historical attractions are indoors. It doesn't really matter how cold it is outside when you're taking in a Matisse at the Barnes, exploring Independence Hall, or fiddling with hands-on exhibits at the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Museum. Plus, there'll be far fewer crowds to contend with while you're learning about Mr. Franklin's affinity for musical inventions and printmaking.

Not all Philadelphia properties offer clearly discounted seasonal rates. Still, it's common to see comparatively lower prices at many hotels during winter, and it didn't take us long to unearth a few examples: At the Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, we found rates in late December for as low as $135 per night, compared to June, when the lowest nightly rates amount to $189. At Rittenhouse 1715, nightly room rates start at $219 during January; in spring, those prices bump up to $239.

(Photo: Bucharest via Shutterstock)

Bucharest

Bucharest made our list of 10 Places to Go While They're Still Cheap this year. It's almost always inexpensive to visit Bucharest, compared to other major European cities. Better yet, it's an even more affordable place to visit during winter. From airfares to hotel rates, prices drop sharply with the temperature. This winter, you can get from JFK to Bucharest on Turkish Airlines for as little as $724 round-trip, with a stop in Istanbul. (Try a free stopover and get two cities for the flight price of one.)

Hotels are cheaper too, naturally. At Hotel Christina, the number-one rated Bucharest hotel according to TripAdvisor (our parent company), prices are the lowest all year during winter months. In February, for example, nightly rates come to €50 (about $63). In June, though, rates jump to €70 (about $87) per night. At Hotel Epoque, the best available rate in June came to €170 (about $212). In January, you can grab a room at this historical and luxurious property for as little as €128 (about $159) per night.

(Photo: Banff Lake Louise Tourism/Paul Zizka Photography)

Banff National Park

Banff National Park is achingly beautiful in wintertime. Whether seen from the ground by sleigh, snowshoe, or dogsled or viewed from the comfort of a fire-warmed room, the park's snow-dusted mountains and turquoise lake appear dreamlike against a pale winter sky.

Banff is full of well-known luxury properties that can cost an arm and a leg come spring and summer--but we found rates dropping by almost half during winter. For example, let's look at the local Fairmont resorts: If you want to stay at Banff's iconic and luxurious Fairmont Banff Spring, go soon. During winter, rates fall as low as $359 CAD (about $317) per night. Comparatively, the best available rate in July is $609 CAD (about $539). Same goes for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Grab January rates starting at $299 CAD (about $265). In June? Those prices skyrocket to $559 CAD (about $495) nightly. Moreover, both properties are offering a range of deals during winter, from free nights to complimentary resort credits with your stay.

(Photo: Denver via Shutterstock)

Denver

It's rare to see a U.S. ski destination offering lower seasonal rates during winter. There's an exception, though: Denver, Colorado. Though it isn't exactly a ski spot itself, the Mile-High City makes an ideal base for winter sports. It's close to Winter Park Resort and Loveland Ski Area. Plus, Rocky Mountain National Park, about an hour away, offers non-downhill activities, from hiking to snowshoeing to cross-country skiing in pristine park wilderness. Rent a car, take a few day trips, and return to Denver after the sun sets to enjoy the city's fabulous nightlife and restaurants. The best part? You'll save money on accommodations, and you can fly right into Denver International.

There's a general uptick in Denver room rates when the weather gets warmer. At theFour Seasons Denver, for example, weekday winter rates start at $525 per night in January. Comparatively, weekday nights in June cost $100 more. Denver's Magnolia Hotel offers weekday January rates from $215 per night. In June, those rates rise to $242.

Traveling on Lufthansa is turning into a game of luck these days. The same counts relying on DB, the German railroad for transportation. Strike or no strike- this remains the question to passengers booked on this German Star Alliance carrier.

Passengers with German airline Lufthansa may face renewed strikes in the pre-Christmas period after a breakdown in negotiations over retirement benefits. And industrial action may affect train services as well.

The German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has threatened imminent new strikes after negotiations with Lufthansa over retirement benefits stalled.

A Lufthansa spokesman insisted that the airline management remained ready to negotiate, saying that it still wanted "constructive talks" to find "sustainable solutions" to the conflict.

Lufthansa pilots have already staged eight walkouts this year, costing the company some 170 million euros ($211.62 million) in lost revenue according to Lufthansa figures.

The pilots are protesting at plans by management to gradually raise the age at which they can take early retirement by five years. At present, pilots can retire at 55 and receive up to 60 percent of their pay until the normal pension kicks in at the statutory retirement age of 65.The new scheme planned by management would affect pilots who started work with the airline from January 2014. The union wants the current scheme maintained for all pilots.

New train strikes?

Train services in Germany could also face imminent strikes. The train drivers' union GDL due to discuss next week whether to continue wage negotiations with railway operator Deutsche Bahn or take further industrial action.

GDL chief Claus Weselsky stressed, however, that no strikes would take place between Christmas and New Year.

The union called a three-day strike in early November to underline its demands for a 5 percent pay increase and a shorter working week.The GDL is also seeking the right to negotiate for railway staff other than drivers, such as conductors and catering staff.

The Münchner Merkur reported that Söder wants to install free wifiat 60 offices and buildings belonging to the state finance ministry – including publicly-owned lake tour boats and remote rural castles.By 2016 all Bavarian official buildings should have free wifi, he said.A third step to the plan would have free wifi access points in every municipality by 2020.

But Söder doesn't mean that the entire area of Bavaria – including forests, fields, and mountains - should be blanketed with free wifi.With most routers having a range of around 12 metres, that would be impossibly expensive.

The opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD) nevertheless mocked the plan, saying that people needed wifi more in city centres than in castles.

Söder also announced eight “BayernLabs”, regional IT centres with the fastest-available internet access, to be opened to schools, businesses and municipalities.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

With most of the new luggage options available, one big weakness is the ability to neatly pack suits and dresses wrinkle-free. We recommend SkyRoll bags designed to Pack, Wrap and Roll...

For more details please visit: www.SkyRoll.Com

VestPacs Are a great way to keep items dry, safe, close, and keep hydrated. Wear them under outer layers or on their own.

For more details about VestPac please visit: www.vestpac.com

One of the biggest frustrations when traveling is knowing where your checked luggage is, just delayed or at a totally different destination. The solution to this problem is the Trackdot tracking system that works works with your mobile phone worldwide where GSM functions.

For more details please visit: www.trackdot.com

When you arrive at your destination and for extended travels a great solution to keep your clothing wrinkle-free and refreshed is the new Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus, available at most major retailers.

For more details please visit: http://www.downywrinklereleaserplus.com/

The Zuca Travel Collection is unique; features include a built-in seat, removable packing pouches that stack like drawers, all designed to fit comfortably into overheads and they come with a TSA-friendly toiletry bag.

Munich in Germany is a great place to visit with many fun and unique things to do. I have compiled a list of 5 reasons why you should visit Munich; this should paint you a picture of the city and demonstrate why it is such a wonderful place to visit, regardless of your likes and dislikes.

Oktoberfest and beer halls

In terms of entertainment, Oktoberfest is probably what the city of Munich is best known for. Oktoberfest is a festival that lasts for 16 days, starting in late September and going into early October. It is a beer festival – Munich is known to have some of the best beer in the world and the purpose of Oktoberfest is to celebrate that. There is also live music and a fair at the festival and the atmosphere is simply electrifying. If you want to taste the beer in Munich but are not planning on visiting when Oktoberfest is on, then not to worry. Munich has many beer halls and tents that are open all year round, and many of these are in the tourists areas so they should be relatively easy to find.

Englisch Garden

The Englisch Garden is a large beautiful park located right in the middle of Munich. It’s a lovely place to visit, maybe just to go for a walk or relax with your family and some refreshments. It presents the more peaceful and pretty side to Munich, that some people might not be fully aware exists. There is food and beer served at places inside the park and there is even the chance to try out some surfing.

Christmas markets

Welcome Christmas in Munch and visit a Christmas market. There are a few but the most well known is the Christkindlmarkt which is highly popular for its welcoming atmosphere, it is always bustling with tourists and also with locals. Not only does it offer a fantastic shopping experience filled with local produce and gifts, it is also the setting for music, dancing and nightlife, not to mention an amazing assortment of food and drink, including that world famous and extremely tasty Gluehwein.

Munich museums

Whatever your interests, Munich has a great variety of museums. The old Pinakothek is an art museum, theDeutsches Museum is filled with all things science, and there is even a BMW museum, which is filled with all different kinds of BMW vehicles. You of course have a choice of the standard history museums as well, where you can learn a lot about Munich’s interesting and extensive past.

Bavarian lakes and mountains

Take a short car journey out of the city centre and in no time you will find yourself at numerous beautiful lakes – such as the Tegernsee, Schliersee, Garmsich and Partenkirchen – only an hour or so away. Here you can really appreciate the beautiful lakes, whether you take a boat trip or enjoy doing watersports from knee-boarding to water ski-ing. Alternatively you can find the nearest restaurant and enjoy a glass of wine whilst taking in the beautiful scenery.

These fascinating discoveries recently made by a team of archeologists in the Turkish city of Zeugma has given us the opportunity to witness the unveiling of Greek and Roman art that hasn't been seen in thousands of years.

The site caught the attention of the international archaeological community when it was threatened by flooding due to the construction of a nearby dam in southern Turkey in 2000. When a team of archaeologists led by Professor Kutalmış Görkay of Ankara University began excavating, they found stunning and well-preserved glass mosaics rich with color.

About Me

I (Allen Barkus) am the publisher of the Travelore Report newsletter, published monthly in print since 1971, with an 80,000 monthly paid circulation. This blog has also become one of the influential travel blogs in the industry with almost 175,000 views monthly. Our focus is on upscale value-added travel and travel related products and services worldwide. Since our lead time to print is typically at least three months, this blog allows us to keep our worldwide press contacts, paid subscribers @$68/yearly and general public aware of our editorial focus. Only paid subscribers get all of our detailed Destination Reports.
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